Adam Olearius (1603–1671), born Adam Ölschläger or Oehlschlaeger, was a mathematician, geographer and librarian. He was appointed secretary to an ambassador sent by Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, to the Shah of Persia, and published about the events and observations during his travels. (On Olearius see: Gerhard Dünnhaupt: „Adam Olearius (1599-1671)“, in: Personalbibliographien zu den Drucken des Barock, Bd. 4. (Stuttgart: Hiersemann 1991) S. 2979-3004; on his travelogue see: Elio C. Brancaforte: Visions of Persia : mapping the travels of Adam Olearius. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press 2003).
Olearius‘ travelogue is usually bound with the account of Johan Albrecht Mandelslo (1616-1644), a German adventurer, who wrote about his travels through Persia and India.
Adam Olearius: Offt begehrte Beschreibung Der Newen Orientalischen Reise, So durch Gelegenheit einer Holsteinischen Legation an den König in Persien geschehen : Worinnen Derer Oerter vnd Länder, durch welche die Reise gangen, als fürnemblich Rußland, Tartarien vnd Persien, sampt jhrer Einwohner Natur, Leben vnd Wesen fleissig beschrieben, vnd mit vielen Kupfferstücken, so nach dem Leben gestellet, gezieret ; Item Ein Schreiben des WolEdeln [et]c. Johan Albrecht Von Mandelslo, worinnen dessen OstIndianische Reise über den Oceanum enthalten ; Zusampt eines kurtzen Berichts von jetzigem Zustand des eussersten Orientalischen KönigReiches Tzina (Schleßwig, Bey Jacob zur Glocken 1647).
- Digitized: Wolfenbütteler Digitale Bibliothek (VD17 23:233209P)
- Bibliographic reference: VD17 23:233209P
- Entry in Wiener China-Bibliographie
Adam Olearius: Offt begehrte Beschreibung Der Newen Orientalischen Reise, So durch Gelegenheit einer Holsteinischen Legation an den König in Persien geschehen : Worinnen Derer Oerter vnd Länder, durch welche die Reise gangen, als fürnemblich Rußland, Tartarien vnd Persien, sampt jhrer Einwohner Natur, Leben vnd Wesen fleissig beschrieben, vnd mit vielen Kupfferstücken, so nach dem Leben gestellet, gezieret ; Item Ein Schreiben des WolEdeln [et]c. Johan Albrecht Von Mandelslo, worinnen dessen OstIndianische Reise über den Oceanum enthalten ; Zusampt eines kurtzen Berichts von jetzigem Zustand des eussersten Orientalischen KönigReiches Tzina (Schleßwig, Bey Jacob zur Glocken 1647).
- Digitized:
> Google Books (Original from Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, digitized 20 November 2012)
> Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb11121756-8; VD17 1:628369L) - Bibliographic reference: VD17 1:628369L
- Entry in Wiener China-Bibliographie
[Adam Olearius:] Orientalische Reise-Beschreibunge Jürgen Andersen aus Schleßwig der An. Christi 1644. außgezogen und 1650. wieder kommen. Und Volquard Iversen aus Holstein so An. 1655 außgezogen und 1668. wieder angelangetSeynd beyde respective durch OstIndien/ Sina/ Tartarien/ Persien/ Türckeyen/ Arabien und Palestinam gezogen: und haben zu Wasser und Land viel merckliche Dinge gesehen und erfahren … Heraus gegeben Durch Adam Olearium … Mit dessen Notis, und etlicher Orter Erklärungen: Sampt vielen Kupfferstücken … (Schleswig: Johan Holwein 1669)
- Digitized: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
- Bibliographic reference: VD17 3:602350C; VD17 32:680480V
- Entry in Wiener China-Bibliographie
Various enlarged German editions were published (e.g. in 1656 and in 1669 and in 1696), translations into various other languages soon followed: Abraham de Wicquefort translated it into French (1666), John Davies into English (1662/1669), the Dutch translation by Dieterius van Wageningen was published in the 1650s.
Adam Olearius/John Davies: The voyages & travels of the ambassadors sent by Frederick Duke of Holstein, to the great Duke of Muscovy, and the King of Persia. Begun in the year M.DC.XXXIII. and finish’d in M.DC.XXXIX. Containing a compleat history of Muscovy, Tartary, Persia, and other adjacent countries. With several publick transactions reaching neer the present times; in VII. books. Whereto are added the Travels of John Albert de Mandelslo, (a gentleman belonging to the embassy) from Persia, into the East-Indies. Containing a particular description of Indosthan, the Mogul’s Empire, th oriental ilands [sic], Japan, China, &c. and the revolutions which happened in those countries, within these few years; in III books. The whole work illustrated with divers accurate mapps, and figures. Written originally by Adam Olearius, secretary to the embassy. Faithfully rendred into English, by John Davies, of Kidwelly. (London: Printed for Thomas Dring, and John Starkey, 1662)
- Digitized:
> Google Books (Original from University of California, digitized 25 October 2011)
> Hongkong University Library | China Through Western Eyes - Bibliographic reference: ESTC Citation Number R21580
Adam Olearius/John Davies: The voyages and travells of the ambassadors sent by Frederick Duke of Holstein, to the Great Duke of Muscovy and the King of Persia. Begun in the year M.DC.XXXIII. and finish’d in M.DC.XXXIX. Containing a compleat history of Muscovy, Tartary, Persia. and other adjacent countries. With several publick transactions reaching near the present times; in VII. books. Whereto are added the Travels of John Albert de Mandelslo, (a gentleman belonging to the embassay) from Persia, into the East-Indies. Containing a particular description of Indosthan, the mogul’s empire, the oriental ilands, [sic] Japan, China, &c. and the revolutions which happened in those countries, within these few years. In III. books. The whole work illustrated with divers accurate mapps, and figures. Written originally by Adam Olearius, secretary to the embassy. Faithfully rendred into English, by John Davies, of Kidwelly. The second edition corrected. (London: printed for John Starkey, and Thomas Basset 1669)
- Digitized: Google Books (Original from Universitad Complutense Madrid, digitized 11 February 2009)
- Bibliographc reference: ESTC Citation Number R30756
Adam Olearius/Abraham van Wicquefort: Relation du voyage d’Adam Olearius en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse. VOL1 / , augmentée en cette nouvelle édition… d’une seconde partie contenant le voyage de Jean Albert de Mandelslo aux Indes Orientales, traduit de l’allemand par A. de Wicquefort,… Tome premier. – Suitte du voyage en Moscovie. Tartarie et Perse, avec celuy de J. A. de Mandelslo aux Indes orientales, contenant une description… de l’Indosthan, de l’empire du Mogul, des isles de l’Orient, du Japon, de la Chine… (Paris: J. Du Puis 1666)
Adam Olearius/John Davies: The voyages and travels of the ambassadors sent by Frederick, Duke of Holstein … beginning M.DC.XXXIII and finished in M.DC.XXXIX containing a compleat history of Muscovy, Tartary, Persia, and other adjacent countries … whereto are added the Travels of John Albert de Mandelslo … into the East Indies (London: Printed for Thomas Dring, and John Starkey, 1662)